Apparatus for the manufacture of thread



1941- w. JANNELL 2,251,886

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD Original Filed Sept. 20, 1935 HHP: 3

I 35 3 35 v 42 L J /4j Z7 33 3 W45;

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF THREAD WilliamJannell, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation,Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Original application September 20, 1935, SerialDivided and this application March 13, 1939, Serial No. 261,434

9 Claims.

This application, which is a division of application Serial No. 41,447,filed September 20, 1935, relates to apparatus for the manufacture ofthread or the like, hereinafter referred to as thread.

The invention is capable of use in the manufacture of various kinds ofthread, such as artificial silk thread produced by the cuprammonium,nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, or viscose processes. For conveniencebut in no sense of limitation, the invention will be described inconnection with apparatus for the manufacture by a continuous process ofmultiple filament viscose artificial silk thread. On such apparatus, thethread is formed and continuously but temporarily stored in the form ofan advancing helix on one or more thread-advancing thread store devicesupon which any desired processing treatments may be applied to thethread.

In the drawing, in which is illustrated one form of apparatus embodyingthe invention, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of apparatuscomprising a series of thread-advancing thread store devices. Figure 2is an end elevation of said apparatus. Figure 3 is a plan of saidapparatus showing somewhat more clearly the arrangement of thethread-advancing thread store devices. Figure 4 is an elevation, partlyin section, of one form of thread-advancing thread store device whichmay be employed in apparatus embodying the invention. Figure 5 is an endelevation corresponding to Figure 4.

In the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each multiple filamentviscose artificial silk thread I is formed by extrusion of viscose fromspinneret 2 into coagulating bath 3 contained in trough 26, the threadbeing drawn through a thread guide 4 by the thread-advancing threadstore device 5. The latter is the first of a series of such devices sodisposed as to form a rectilinear bank in which the individual devicesare arranged with their axes parallel, in the same horizontal orsubstantially horizontal plane, but obliquely to a vertical planeparalleling the longitudinal axis of the coagulating trough 26. Thethread I passes in turn to each device in the series, each of saiddevices advancing the thread lengthwise thereof in a plurality ofclosely spaced, generally helical turns.

Each thread-advancing thread store device other than the first is sopositioned that the thread-receiving end thereof is adjacent the threaddischarge end of the preceding device, the devices being furtherdisposed as shown in Figure 3, so that a thread passing to each of thedevices in turn advances in a plurality of generally helical turnstoward the operating face of the series as a whole. Various processingtreatments may be applied to the thread while stored on thethread-advancing thre'ad store devices, one or more processingoperations being performed on the thread on each of said devices. Anynecessary or desirable number ofdevices on which the desired processingsteps are carried out may be provided in the series.

In the illustrated apparatus, after the thread leaves the last device ofthe series it passes through a guide I2 to a suitable collecting device,as, for example, the cap-twister l3.

A form of thread-advancing thread store device which may be employed toadvantage in apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated in Figures4 and 5, the same comprising a threadadvancing reel operating on theprinciple of the reel shown, described and claimed in application SerialNo. 652,089, filed January 16, 1933, by Walter F. Knebusch. 0n thesurface of such reel a predetermined length of thread may be stored in alarge number of closely spaced, generally helical turns. The threadturns are caused by the action of the elements of the reel to advancelengthwise of the reel until they are removed at the discharge endthereof. Instead of the reel herein illustrated, other forms ofthread-advancing thread store devices may be used.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the reel shown comprises two rigid membersl4 and I5 each of which is generally circular in cross section and hasits periphery composed of longitudinally extending bars. Member M, whichmay be termed the concentric member because it is mounted, as by meansof set screw IS, with its axis concentric with that of the drive shaftI1, is provided with a spider (8 on which bars l9 are mounted. Memberl5, which may be termed the eccentric member, is provided with a spider20 supporting bars 2|. The peripheries of each of members 14 and I5 areprovided with an equal number of bars, which number is preferably aslarge as practicable, the bars of each member being disposed alternatelyto and longitudinally of the bars of the other member.

The. eccentric member I5 is so termed because it is mounted on bushing22, which is in turn rotatably supported on member 23, in such mannerthat the axis about which member I 5 rotates is inclined to and offsetfrom the axis of rotation of member M. Member I5 is driven by contact ofbars 2| with bars l9 of member M. The offset and inclined relationshipof members l4 and l5 causes, during rotation thereof,-the thread toadvance in the manner explained in the afore- 'mentioned Knebuschapplication. The reel here-v in shown is of cantilever form in that itis supported from one end only thereof, the other end being unobstructedby anything impeding the discharge of thread from the reel.

Because the reel is made up of interdigitating sets of bars; 1. e.,because it is of unitary construction, it is self-threading. That is, ifthe leading end of a thread having a sufficient degree of adhesion tocling to the bars, as a wet thread, is brought into contact with thereel, the reel will automatically wind and advance the thread in spaced,generally helical turns during rotation of the reel. This arises fromthe fact that, due

to the interdigitation of the bars of the reel mem-- bers, the threadcannot wind itself about one reel member only, but must wind about bothin generally helical turns. This feature provides important advantagesin starting the thread on the reel.

Among other things, the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 1, 2, and 3 provides convenience for the operator; accessibilityfor repairs, control, and maintenance purposes; and economy of floorspace, construction, etc. Figures 1 to 3, however, show portions of onlyone unit of a series of units which may be disposed at suitableintervals along a central structure 25 on each side of which are mountedlongitudinally extending troughs 26 containing coagulating baths 3. Eachunit consists of a housing 21 on the opposite sides of which the reelsare mounted as shown in Figure 3. In the illustrated apparatus, thereare four such series of reels to each unit, each series of reels,together with its auxiliary apparatus, comprising all the processingequipment necessary to handle each thread.

.Power for allunits is supplied by the main drive shaft 28 which isdriven by some suitable means such as an electric motor. 29 mounted forrotation with shaft 23 mesh with helical gears 30 which rotate reeldrive shafts 32 and 33 through clutches 34. Each pair of shafts 32 and33 drives the reels on one side of the housing 21 through gears 35. Bymeans of the corresponding clutch 34 actuated by associated lever 35,any series of reels may be disengaged from the main drive shaft andstopped as desired without the necessity for stopping the entiremachine.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, noprocessing liquid other 7 than that carried up by the thread from theco-' agulating bath 3 is applied on the first reel 5, which is used as aset-up reel. On reel 5, a considerable length of thread is stored for aperiod of time sufiicient to permit substantially complete regenerationof the cellulose content of the viscose to occur before the threadpasses to the subsequent reels. with its axis oblique to thelongitudinal axis of the trough 26, its thread-receiving portion at thesupported end of the reel being directly above the trough. The portionat which the thread leaves the reel at the unsupported end thereof isdis! posed beyond the working face of the trough. In the apparatusshown, moreover, the threadreceiving portion of the reel 5 issubstantially directly above the corresponding spinneret 2 so that thethread I passes in an approximately vertical direction to the reel.

In the manufacture of multiple filament viscose artificial silk thread,it may be desirable, by

supply pipe 42.

the use of suitable reagents, to desulphurize, wash, bleach, wash, soapand dry the thread on succeeding reels before it is collected. In suchcase, the liquid treatment administered to thread on the reels followingreel 5 may be applied by means similar to that shown in connection withreel 6. For example, the treating liquid may be applied by showering iton the thread on reel 6 by means of reagent distributor 31. A collectingtrough 38 and drain pipe 39 may be provided to collect the reagentliquid as it leaves the reel.

Since reels in the corresponding positions on opposite sides of thehousing 21 may be devoted to the same processing operations, the reagentliquid distributorsfor corresponding reels may be interconnected, as bypipe 4| connected to Likewise the drain pipes 33 for like troughs 38 onopposite sides of the housing 21 may be connected by a cross pipe 43communicating with drain pipe 44. In the case of liquids such as washwater which are usedonly once, drain pipe 44 may lead to a sewer. In acase'of a reagent which it may be desirable to recirculate, the drainpipe 44 may lead to a storage tank and recirculating pump which willcause the treating liquid to circulate back to reagent'distributor 31.

The last reel II of each series may be provided with means for dryingthe thread such as chamber46, to which chambe .heated air is suppliedHelical gears The reel 5 is disposed as shown 'as through pipe 41, as sh'111 Figure 2.

Cap-twister [3, provided as the collecting means for the thread, may beactuated by mechanism such as that illustrated in Figure 2. The end ofthe housing 21 is supported by standard 48 on the frames 49 whichsupport the twister mechanism. The lifting rail 5| on which are mountedthe rotatable bobbin-supporting whirls 6| of the cap twisters l3isslidably mounted on frames 49. Each twister whirl 6| is rotated by abelt 62 which passes over'tension pulleys 63 and is driven by pulley 64mounted for rotation with the shaft 65 driven by suitable means (notshown).

Spindles 54 for the cap-twisters l3 are connected at their lower ends toarms 55 fastened to the frames 43. The required vertical reciprocatorymovement is imparted to the lifting rail 5| by chain 56 passing over anidler sprocket carried by shaft 51 which chain is fastened at one end tothe lifting rail. The other end of chain 56 is fastened to a sprocketfixed to shaft 53 rotated first in one direction and then in the otherby suitable means, such as a cam and lever.

It is apparent that the features of the invention may be applied toapparatus other than that illustrated; also, that various changes andmodifications may be made in the illustrated apparatus without in anyway departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, undercertain conditions, as in the processing of thread or thread-likearticles of sufliciently high tensile strengths, it is possible to causethe reels to rotate by the action of the thread or the like as it isdrawn off, in which case the necessity for posiing a working face on oneside thereof; a unitary, self-threading thread-advancing thread storedevice of cantilever construction mounted above the level of the liquidin said trough with its unsupported end presented to said operatingface, said thread-advancing thread store device being disposed withrespect to said trough in such fashion that at least a portion of itshorizontal projection will lie within the lateral limits of the trough;a spinning nozzle in said trough from which the thread passes to saidthread-advancing thread store device without crossing the lateral limitsof said trough; and take-up means disposed beyond the lateral limits ofsaid trough to which take-up means the thread passes from saidthread-advancing thread store device.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the axis of said thread-advancingthread store device is at an angle to a vertical plane paralleling thelongitudinal axis of said trough.

3. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinallyextending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having aworking face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; aunitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device ofcantilever construction having its unsupported end presented to saidworking face mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough insuch fashion that at least a portion of its horizontal projection willlie within the lateral limits of the trough, the thread passing fromsaid spinning nozzle to the supported end of said threadadvancing threadstore device in a substantially verticalpath disposed entirely withinthe lateral limits of said trough; and, disposed in proximity to saidthread-advancing thread store device, take-up means to which the threadpasses from the unsupported end thereof.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the axis of said thread-advancingthread store device extends obliquely to a vertical plane parallelingthe longitudinal axis of said trough.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprisinga longitudinallyextending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having aworking face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; aunitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device ofcantilever construction to the supported end of which the thread passesfrom said spinning nozzle, said thread-advancing thread store devicebeing mounted above the level of the liquid in said trough with itsthread-receiving portion directly over said trough and its unsupportedend presented to the working face of said trough; and take-up means towhich the thread passes from the unsupported end of saidthread-advancing thread store device.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the unsupported end of saidthread-advancing thread store device extends beyond the lateral limitsof said trough.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said threadadvancing thread storedevice extends beyond the lateral limits .of said trough with its axisat an acute angle to a vertical plane paralleling the longitudinal axisof said trough.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinallyextending trough containing a coagulating liquid, said trough having aworking face on one side thereof; a spinning nozzle in said trough; aunitary, selfthreading thread-advancing thread store device ofcantilever construction to the supported end of which the thread passesfrom said spinning nozzle mounted above the level of the liquid in saidtrough with its thread-receiving portion directly over said trough andits thread-discharge portion projecting beyond the lateral limits ofsaid trough on the side thereof on which said working face is located,whereby the path of the thread from said spinning nozzle to saidthreadadvancing thread store device lies entirely within and the path ofthe thread leaving said threadadvancing thread store device liesentirely beyond the lateral limits of said trough: and take-up means towhich the thread passes from said thread-advancing thread store device.

-9. Apparatus for the manufacture of thread comprising a longitudinallyextending trough containing a coagulating liquid; a spinning nozzle insaid trough; a deck associated with and providing access to said trough;and, mounted above said trough in such fashion that at least a portionof its horizontal projection will lie within the lateral limits of thetrough, a unitary, self-threading thread-advancing thread store deviceof cantilever construction to the supported end of which the threadpasses from said spinning nozzle, the unsupported end of saidthreadadvancing thread store device being directed toward and extendingover said deck to facilitate the withdrawal of the thread from theunsupported end of said thread-advancing thread store device.

WILLIAM JANNELL.

